The iAlert Instant School Closing System

I never understood why agencies, school districts, churches or businesses wait until the 1st big snow storm to sign up for the iAlert System.

I guess it's the organized, over-achiever in me which says 'be prepared' before it happens!

Honestly, I was never a girl scout, but I would have made a darn good one!


So we at wkyc have the iAlert Instant School Closing System. For example, a school supt. contacts our administrator, signs up, is given a password and ID and a packet of information on how it operates. Every once in a blue moon, a kink pops up...but for the most part, the system is a dream.

The principal or school administrator can close his or her school or district themselves typing in exactly what they need to share such as 'closed Monday,' or 'evening classes cancelled,' or 'all activities cancelled.' You get the picture.


I, working on the news desk, 'police' the entries that automatically come in to the system. I can not even believe the mistakes.

First, I think there is a rule where you have to use the computer to close your school in advance but you can use the phone system the morning of the day you are thinking about closing. Many still don't get this concept. At least this is how it was last year....

Doesn't seem to be a big deal-- after the stroke of midnight, call off your school via the phone.


There are other discrepancies which wind up on the system. All sense of following directions seems to fly out the window.


And I never understood how the smaller groups that join don't have a 'phone chain' in place. It's common sense. Every organization should have a list of their members and if something goes awry, they should start the calling chain to get the info out to every last member!!


Some of the bigger no-no's: I have teachers calling off for Friday yet it says Monday? They are only calling off for one day yet the expiration date is a week later.


It's quite simple and all spelled out in the paperwork sent out and then while enacting the closing. The operator just needs to pay attention, follow the directions, and adhere to each step --step by step.


All in all, the iAlert Instant School Closing System is a wonderful tool that anyone connected to a school, church, business, or big organization should subscribe to in order to get the word about themselves. It's a huge help to our customers, our viewers, those who log on wkyc.com or who subscribe to our text alerts.

There are mornings when we have upwards of 500-1000 schools who have called off and we, as a news agency, must get this information out to our customers as quickly as possible.

Please, if you have not joined the iAlert system yet, think about it and log onto wkyc.com and take the proper steps to do so before the next big snow event. It will only help your group and more easily facilitate your closing or cancellation.